Maine Learning Results: English Language Arts - B. Writing
B4. Persuasive
Grades 9-Diploma Students write persuasive essays exhibiting logical reasoning and rhetorical techniques.
a. Employ a variety of persuasive techniques including anticipating, addressing, and refuting possible counterclaims in a thesis-driven logical argument to influence the opinions, beliefs or positions of others.
What understandings are desired?
Students will understand that:(U)
• A thesis is a single, logically driven statement that is the core of any basic argument.
• Using the correct methods, any argument is debatable in a persuasive way.
• In order to persuade one side of an argument, they must stand strongly on their side and use a variety of persuasive tools.
What essential questions will be considered?
Essential Questions:(Q)
• Why is it necessary to be able to condense an argument in to a single logical statement.
• How might the use of particular methods steer an argument in a particular way?
• Why is it important for someone to fight only one side of an argument?
What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit?
Students will know:(K)
Students will be able to do:(S)
• Terminology: thesis, anticipating, addressing, counterclaims, refuting, argument, debate, persuasion
• Critical Details: persuasion in today's world (politics, marketing, etc.) (students will research their own)
• Key Factual Information: how to build a thesis, how to formulate an argument, how to structure an essay
• Justify one side of a highly debatable topic.
• Interpret other arguments - namely ones contradicting their own.
• a. Use a variety of persuasive techniques in a thesis-driven argument (essay).
• Argue their side (point or belief) effectively [both] on paper [and verbally].
• Be open to counterarguments in order to strengthen their own.
• Reflect on their own beliefs and opinions in a
logical and meaningful way.
Stage 1 Identify Desired Results
B4. Persuasive
Grades 9-Diploma
Students write persuasive essays exhibiting logical reasoning and rhetorical techniques.
a. Employ a variety of persuasive techniques including anticipating, addressing, and refuting possible counterclaims in a thesis-driven logical argument to influence the opinions, beliefs or positions of others.
What understandings are desired?
• Using the correct methods, any argument is debatable in a persuasive way.
• In order to persuade one side of an argument, they must stand strongly on their side and use a variety of persuasive tools.
What essential questions will be considered?
• How might the use of particular methods steer an argument in a particular way?
• Why is it important for someone to fight only one side of an argument?
What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit?
• Critical Details: persuasion in today's world (politics, marketing, etc.) (students will research their own)
• Key Factual Information: how to build a thesis, how to formulate an argument, how to structure an essay
• Interpret other arguments - namely ones contradicting their own.
• a. Use a variety of persuasive techniques in a thesis-driven argument (essay).
• Argue their side (point or belief) effectively [both] on paper [and verbally].
• Be open to counterarguments in order to strengthen their own.
• Reflect on their own beliefs and opinions in a
logical and meaningful way.
2004 ASCD and Grant Wiggins and JayMcTighe